Lobbyist forms two vets' groups to push Perry candidacy

Governor's former aide lists $1 million goal in Iowa, South Carolina

PEGGY FIKAC, AUSTIN BUREAU

Published 5:30 am, Monday, August 1, 2011

AUSTIN — Gov. Rick Perry's military background and record on veterans' issues are reporting for campaign duty with the formation of two new political groups as he nears an announcement on the presidential race.

The Jobs for Vets Fund and Veterans for Rick Perry were founded by lobbyist Dan Shelley, an Air Force veteran and former Houston lawmaker who was legislative director to Perry and to then-Gov. George W. Bush before him.

Shelley said Monday that his focus is on Iowa and South Carolina. He said he hopes the groups will take in $1 million by year's end to deliver a pro-Perry message.

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The groups cannot legally coordinate with any Perry campaign, but could work to boost such an effort. The Jobs for Vets Fund is a so-called "super PAC" that could raise unlimited money to independently get out its message.

Shelley talked about his efforts the same day Politico reported another super PAC, Jobs for Iowa, has an Iowa television buy promoting Perry as "a conservative with proven leadership in tough times."

Denies knowledge

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Perry's chief political consultant, Dave Carney, said by email the groups "are not connected to us in any fashion nor do we support what all these folks are doing. Their motives seem well-intended, but we don't really know."

The veterans groups will promote Perry through radio buys, dispatching veterans as surrogate speakers and tapping into veterans' networks, Shelley said.

"Both of them will promote all the positive things that Rick Perry has done in Texas for veterans and what we could expect that he would do ... on a national level," Shelley said.

Likes military experience

"I think a commander in chief with military experience is usually better than one without, particularly considering we are a nation currently at war, and my Marine son is a participant in that war," Patterson said by email.

He added that "Perry's major contribution to Texas veterans is that a recently discharged veteran has an opportunity to get a job in Texas."

Perry flew C-130 aircraft in the U.S., Europe and Middle East when he served in the Air Force in 1972-77.

His office noted that veterans issues "are largely a federal responsibility" but cited efforts such as legislation he signed establishing a pilot project to maximize college credit to veterans for military experience and granting homestead exemptions for veterans who are 100 percent disabled due to their service; his work with lawmakers and the Health and Human Services Commission to help secure more funding for mental health treatment and support for veterans and their families; and an initiative to help address a backlog of more than 39,000 claims by veterans for disability and health benefits at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.